For 40 years, Butler County Community College has served more than 100,000 students who have gone on to successfully contribute to the community and the world beyond Butler County.

This year, we are "Celebrating the Past and Pioneering the Future," with a yearlong 40th anniversary celebration that marks the achievements of the college and our students.

Our mission supports affordable and accessible education responsive to the needs of the community, valuing integrity, diversity and excellence. It is our student-centered approach to learning that makes us unique, and our open admission policy makes us accessible to all who choose to pursue their higher education through a community college.

In an article on Aug. 26, "BC3 seeks clarification," I was quoted as saying our "kids" are "not college material," and that simply isn't true. There is a significant difference between "not college material" and "not prepared at the college level." The first passes judgment and closes the door to further education. The second implies that, with additional instruction, the door to higher education is open.

BC3's open-door policy takes students from unprepared to an associate degree that transfers to a university to complete a baccalaureate degree.

Our students are not kids, but adults ranging in age from 18 to 58, and this fall we have 3,758 credit students attending in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Forty percent of our students are not prepared at the college level and need developmental or remediation courses. Once the students gain the requisite reading, writing and mathematical skills, they are capable of succeeding in college courses and are better prepared to continue in their chosen fields. This was the point I was trying to make in the article and it's an important one.

At community colleges, it's one of the things we do best, helping to prepare our students for success in college and their careers.

In Butler County, we are fortunate to have the support of the county and community residents. Our 40th anniversary signifies that commitment to higher education for all, and we are proud of it.

We work hard to provide a student-centered institution and to ensure that BC3 truly is The Smart Place to Start.